Muhammad Ali action figures due this Fall

LOUISVILLE, Ky. Muhammad Ali Enterprises has signed a deal with sports memorabilia company Upper Deck Authenticated to produce a line of Ali action figures and other merchandise based on the sports icon with the first products due to hit stores this fall.

The company will also launch an online store at www.ali.com on Jan. 17—the former heavyweight champ’s 66th birthday—where Ali posters and memorabilia will be sold.

The deals are the latest in a wave of merchandising partnerships started last November when it teamed with American Greetings to develop a line of Ali greeting cards. Those cards are arriving in stores this week and will be followed by a line of sound cards and talking Christmas tree ornaments due out in 2009.